where to stay???

[saving4nexttrip]

I'm planning our first trip to Disneyland, after many trips to WDW. We want to be in the closest walking distance to the park as possible. Where should we stay? And does that hotel offer the buy 3 get 2 package? I'm so overwhelmed, I don't know where to begin. Disneyland has so many more lodging options than WDW, which I know like the back of my hand. Help!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

hojos #1 on this board

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

Here is a link to a hotel map
http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

I would say anything on Harbour between Hojo and CandyCane Inn is walkable.
Of course the 3 Disney hotels are walkable, with Grand Californian being the closest.

In regards to the 5 for 3 deal, as long as it is one of the 3 disney properties or an official good neighbor hotel, then yes the deal would be available (if space is available). Not all the hotels on harbour are official good neighbor hotels.

 

[charmama4]

If your looking for the 5 for 3 deal go for one of the good neighbor hotels. Go to the official website where you will find a list of them and a map where they are located in reference to the crosswalk to the Esplanade (walkthrough to the 2 parks).

These boards are a wealth of information, advise and tons of pictures. You've come to right place

 

[teatime]

If your looking for the 5 for 3 deal go for one of the good neighbor hotels. Go to the official website where you will find a list of them and a map where they are located in reference to the crosswalk to the Esplanade (walkthrough to the 2 parks).

These boards are a wealth of information, advise and tons of pictures. You've come to right place

I tried the same thing on the disneyland web site and it keeps telling me many of the hotels are not doing the 5 for 3 deal. where are you talking about? I really could do the hojo but it says there not doing this deal

 

[avalon451]

When are you going-- what's your dates?

You would probably have better luck calling the hotels directly; usually they're very helpful.

I like HoJo, as well; I know for sure you'd get help from them if you call the hotel directly and ask for in house reservations, Mon-Fri, 9-5. You'd talk to Jennifer or Lorealle; they're so great!

As far as other tips, there's a sticky thread at the top of this forum, Hydroguy's Tips Compilation: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483 There are several threads in there that are specifically for WDW vets who are doing DL for the first time. Lots of great info in one place!

Hope you find what you need!

 

[kokotg]

I'm pretty sure the HoJo is NOT participating in the buy 5 for 3 deal. My understanding is that only certain Good Neighbor hotels are included. When I go through the Disney website, it will only offer me a small handful of them--although that's probably because we need a room that holds 5. We have reservations for the Hojo in September, and I think we've decided it's not worth it for us to change them to do the offer.

 

[teatime]

When are you going-- what's your dates?

You would probably have better luck calling the hotels directly; usually they're very helpful.

I like HoJo, as well; I know for sure you'd get help from them if you call the hotel directly and ask for in house reservations, Mon-Fri, 9-5. You'd talk to Jennifer or Lorealle; they're so great!

As far as other tips, there's a sticky thread at the top of this forum, Hydroguy's Tips Compilation: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483 There are several threads in there that are specifically for WDW vets who are doing DL for the first time. Lots of great info in one place!

Hope you find what you need!

I have called numerous times today, neither one is in yet . I hope they can beat the price the carousel gave me ( 80.00 )

 

[charmama4]

I tried the same thing on the disneyland web site and it keeps telling me many of the hotels are not doing the 5 for 3 deal. where are you talking about? I really could do the hojo but it says there not doing this deal

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...rPage&int_cmp=fy09q4_hppopup_learnmore_button

This is from the official site. It states that only "participating" good neighbors are doing the 5 for 3 deal. I hope this helps.
One thing I have learned when taking vacations is call the hotel directly, tell them what you are looking for, ask what deals they have and compare with not only other hotels but with website deals. Sometimes the in house reservations are better than the website and vise versa. You just never know till you ask. And READ everything, so there are no surprises later.

 

[Husker Mickey]

Try getawaytoday.com they have the good neighbor hotels listed there with prices. HTH!

 

[meenajames]

Thanks Husker, i'll check it out now.

 

[carj]

Of course since this is our first family trip, I really shouldn't be offering advice, but since I can't resist, here it is.

We booked at Hojo for June 25- July 3 using the mousesavers rate. The Dis rate is the same. We have 8 nights for $813, including tax. The rate jumps up by about $20 a night the last three nights as we get closer to July 4th. That means that we are averaging about $100 a night.

I am planning to buy the 6 for 4 tickets available through the DL website before we go.

I have priced it several ways before and after the 5 for 3 deal came out. Booking the room and tickets separately worked out better for us because we could get the hotel that we wanted at a price that we could live with.

Last summer we went to WDW and did not purchase a package. We found that it was cheaper to buy some pieces together and some separately.

I would price the trip several ways. Try pricing the package, then the individual pieces. Then I would try to price some pieces together. (Airfare and hotel, hotel and rental car, tickets and meals, etc...) I like to see what the lowest price is for each piece and then see if the package is saving me anything or not.

 

[wdhinn89]

I'm planning our first trip to Disneyland, after many trips to WDW. We want to be in the closest walking distance to the park as possible. Where should we stay? And does that hotel offer the buy 3 get 2 package? I'm so overwhelmed, I don't know where to begin. Disneyland has so many more lodging options than WDW, which I know like the back of my hand. Help!

It seems that everyone is replying back to you about offsite hotels and not mentioning any of the on-site hotels. The Grand Californian is the closet walking distance hotel to the parks. Yes, it also offers the 3 for 5 package. I have mine booked for July 27-Aug 1

 

[saving4nexttrip]

Thanks, everyone, for the great tips! Keep them coming! I'm waiting from a quote from a travel agent, but have done lots of great research with your help. Since we're going mid-July, I'm afraid I might be running out of options quickly.

 

[firefly87]

I'm planning our first trip to Disneyland, after many trips to WDW. We want to be in the closest walking distance to the park as possible. Where should we stay? And does that hotel offer the buy 3 get 2 package? I'm so overwhelmed, I don't know where to begin. Disneyland has so many more lodging options than WDW, which I know like the back of my hand. Help!

You mentioned you want to be as close to the park as possible. While there are many obvious Hojo's lovers here, it is not the closest hotel to the parks. The Grand is probably the closest (if you can afford the rates). The DL Hotel is at the far end of Downtown Disney. It's about a 5-10 min walk.

But I think the hotels right across the street on Harbor are even closer than the DL Hotel (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong). We were going to stay at the BW Park Place Inn for our trip. I've heard great reviews about it. (we ended up staying in an amazing Disney themed home instead).

Check out this website & map:
http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp
The hotels in the green box on Harbor are the closest to the parks. If you have questions about those specific hotels, I'm sure other posters can give advice. Also, check the reviews on Trip Advisor......those are helpful too!

 

[charmama4]

Of course since this is our first family trip, I really shouldn't be offering advice, but since I can't resist, here it is.

We booked at Hojo for June 25- July 3 using the mousesavers rate. The Dis rate is the same. We have 8 nights for $813, including tax. The rate jumps up by about $20 a night the last three nights as we get closer to July 4th. That means that we are averaging about $100 a night.

I am planning to buy the 6 for 4 tickets available through the DL website before we go.

I have priced it several ways before and after the 5 for 3 deal came out. Booking the room and tickets separately worked out better for us because we could get the hotel that we wanted at a price that we could live with.

Last summer we went to WDW and did not purchase a package. We found that it was cheaper to buy some pieces together and some separately.

I would price the trip several ways. Try pricing the package, then the individual pieces. Then I would try to price some pieces together. (Airfare and hotel, hotel and rental car, tickets and meals, etc...) I like to see what the lowest price is for each piece and then see if the package is saving me anything or not.

I like to seperate things as well. Southwest was having a deal that I know no one was able to beat with a package. We are a military family so going to our MWR office for tickets can't be beat either. Finding a room at a good rate isn't all that difficult just more foot work. Package deals are wonderful for people that don't want or need to do the foot work on finding the best deal for their money. Believe me, I have "crunched" numbers so many different ways (DH appreciates this) to find the best deal and believe me if a package deal was the best I'd soo be on it!!!
Good luck in your DL planning!!